Member Reviews
Paris has always been known for their fashion houses. In The Paris Dressmaker, we follow two women who in different ways help the Resistance in WWII.
Lila, a seamstress at La Maison Chanel until it is closes because of the war. When she finds works at Nini Ricci, a friend draws her into the world of the Nazi soldiers’ French girlfriends. She finds herself designing their dresses and becoming privy to Nazi secrets. She soon starts working for the Resistance while she grieves the loss her former love whom she thinks died. But did he?
Sandrine, a young mother who thinks her husband is missing in action, is recruited to identify and relocate the valuable art that the Nazis have stolen from French citizens. She, too, starts working for the Resistance and draws the unwanted attention of a Nazi Captain. Will she be able to keep the Nazi Captain away? Is her husband truly missing?
The women’s stories are told on two timelines, but they are near timelines, 1939 and 1943, which I think adds to the tension of the story. It took me a while to settle into the story, but once I did, I found it intriguing and wanted to see how the stories would intertwine and resolve. I was pleasantly surprised. I appreciate that the author drew the story to conclusion during the Liberation as it was such a harrowing time in Paris.
Thank you to Net Galley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan for the advanced listener’s copy. My review is my own.
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This book hooked me from the very beginning. I loved the two storylines of this book. I appreciated the two women's points of view, their challenges, strength and courage during WWII.
Recommended!
I enjoyed this book, and the unique twist on a dual timeline. Following two women through the German occupation in Paris, France, you see how two seemingly different women work out how to survive a horror they could have never expected. This story models the importance of making the right choice, even when no one sees. Also, how those choices don’t just impact you, but have the possibility to ripple out to others you never see. This book was well written, full of meticulous research and beautiful descriptions. It was worth reading just for the visuals! Both female characters were strong leads, and each of their stories were intriguing. This is not a race to the finish type book, but rather one that is easy to sink into, whether over hours, days, or weeks. I listened to the audiobook, and found the narrator to be a perfect fit for the story. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.
Historical fiction set in Paris during WWII and follow two young women who slowly become drawn into the French Resistance movement - for family, for country, for love. The dual love stories (especially Lila's) are a bit cliched and I would have preferred less emphasis on the romances. Solid story-telling which puts the spotlight on ordinary citizens contributing to the Resistance effort in the best way they know how, not with bombs or gunfire but by utilising their pre-war skills - in this case as a dressmaker and art historian respectively. So many nameless people whose efforts probably were never recognised, but who were no less heroic in their efforts. Excellent narration.
Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a beautiful story. I love reading about the war in France and even more when I get to learn about the French Resistance. Man, I am always blown away by those who fought behind the scenes and risked their lives to try and take their country back. This story followed Lila and Sandrine, two women in France living in different circumstances who both fall headlong into positions in the French Resistance by pure happenstance. They were both such beautiful souls and I loved following each of their stories. This was a different book than I have often read because it followed those who lived amongst the glitz and glamour of France even during the war. I had no idea about Coco Chanel's history and now I am intrigued and want to learn more about her life amongst the Nazis.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves history, a good love story and strong female characters.
Excellent historical novel revolves around two courageous young women fighting in the Paris Resistance from 1939-Liberation in 1944 to save stolen art from the Nazi’s. Strong characterization and an exciting and memorable setting in the City of Light. NeverForget.
This historical fiction brought us into Paris, France during WW2. The timeline jumps around as does the POV from which we are experiencing the various time frames.
Our two main characters are Lila and Sandrine. Both women are strong women who want to do their part for the city they love.
Lila is a dressmaker who worked for Coco Chanel before Chanel closed her salon. She finds new work, but is taken in to the life of the Ritz by her former friend and co-worker, Amelie, and becomes the go-to dressmaker for the Nazi officer's mistresses who live at the Ritz hotel. Amelie is drawn to the haute couture that her friend is capable of providing and Lila finds ways to make this arrangement beneficial to the cause.
Sandrine is a well-educated women with a degree in art history and a missing husband. She catches the eye of a Nazi captain and is put to work under his watchful and protective eye cataloging stolen art. She is spat at and called names for her connection to the captain but works to find ways to make her arrangement beneficial to the cause.
I enjoyed the overall story but I felt like it was confusing with the time and POV jumps (especially on audiobook) to get into a rhythm and learn all of the characters. As it is with this type of book I eventually found my bearings and figured out the who's who but it did seem to take me longer than normal for some reason in this book.
I did enjoy the narrator of the book, but as mentioned above feel I would have benefitted from being able to flip back and forth in between pages to make sure I had everything straight as I read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked both storylines in this book! Both women's viewpoint and challenges during the War were well written. I was immediately hooked at the very beginning of the story. Throughout the book the women's strength is shown in many ways. I always love reading books in Paris and France and this one was another one I enjoyed.
This story just never quite worked out for me. There were so many different points of view and it ended up pulling me out of the story every time I had to switch from one to another. there were also different timelines, and the mix between characters and timelines was just too much. I feel like the mix of characters, POVs, and timelines created a disservice to the story. I struggled to connect with anyone. I alternated between the book and the audio, but wasn't able to find a connection from either format.
This one didn't work for me, but I know that there are readers out there that will really enjoy this. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, you might want to give this a try.
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Are there too many books about the French resistance during WWII? I'd argue not... never. There are too many amazing, courageous stories to tell and The Paris Dressmaker is certainly one of those. Audiobooks are typically not my style but I truly enjoyed listening to this one.
This book alternates between 1939 and 1943. At times I felt like the time shift was a little confusing but overall I was able to stick with the story. If I were reading the book I think this would have been a non-issue. Overall I loved listening to this novel but I did want to give that feedback for future listeners.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to netgalley for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Despite reading a lot of books that focused on everyday people afffected by Nazi Germany and WWII, I actually found this book to be a breath of fresh air in a genre that has so many different books in it. I don’t think I have ever read a book set in Paris during the war. Through studying History, I was given this idea that the French fell quickly to Nazi Germany, this book didn’t give this impression and I loved it. I really enjoyed this book and the characters in it, I couldn’t put it down.
I loved this book! It was heartwarming and strong. It was exactly what I needed with everything going on in the world! A happy little escape!
With "The Paris Dressmaker", author Kristy Cambron transports the reader to Paris 1939 - 1944; during the time of Nazi occupation through it's liberation, During this time the French Resistance is battling on many fronts to liberate France. Two unlikely women are among those ranks:Lila Du Laurent and Sandrine Paquet,
Lila is a dressmaker in the house of Coco Channel When the design house is shuttered, she begins working with Nina Ricci before having no choice but to work on her own. Lila designed and made dresses for the women on the arms of Nazi officers - one in particular was a friend from the House of Channel. She moves among the Nazi elite in order obtain information for the Resistance . The life threatening danger this puts her in is beyond what someone would imagine of a frivolous woman in the fashion industry.
In 1943 Sandrine is living withe her young son and and her husband's parents. She is pursued by a German officer who wants her for his own, Sandrine is ordered to catalog priceless works of art that have been stolen from Jewish families by the Nazis. Many of these works are being sent to directly to Hitler for his personal collection. Sandrine is also searching for clues about the whereabouts of her husband and any information that could be used by the Resistance. One day she opens a crate that contains the most beautiful dress imaginable. It was made for Mrs. Rothschild by House of Channel and it contains a cryptic clue that can unravel the disappearance of the Paris Dressmaker.
The book is based on real life accounts of French dressmakers during these horrifying times. There is no sparring the reader from the inhumane actions of the Nazis. How Parisians treated each other during this time also has a bright light shined upon it. The men were sent off to fight the war, and the women were left to keep life going and to fight with the tools they had had available - their intellect and their bravery, This was not always the best of shields, but they fought on,
This is a gripping account providing a new perspective on occupied Paris. The story is well told and left me eager to get back to it any time I had to put it down. A thoroughly enjoyable Historical Fiction novel.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with and early listening copy of the audiobook - which is wonderfully narrated by Barrie Kreinik - in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this story! I had no trouble keeping up with the different points of views and the jumping timeline. At the beginning of each chapter it tells you the year so it wasn’t that hard to figure out if it was a flashback.
I thought this story was fascinating and intriguing.
I couldn’t wait to get back to it so I could find out what happens to all of the characters.
I thought the narrator was AWESOME. She changed her voice for all of the different accents (French, German, american) and she did a great job on the male voices as well.
A story as beautifully heart-wrenching as the cover. is eye-catching. A mesmerizing look at Paris during German occupation and two women who must survive.
The story of two courageous women fighting to help their own country to finally be able to get the freedom they lost in the hands of the nazis...
The story of Lila started with her dreams of fashion and dressmaking she was becoming already very well known around the fashion industry as well as women of society but her life changed so drastically when she decided to start helping the resistance, her life was in danger, her best friend and people close to her will start showing their true colors putting her in even more danger but nothing will stop Lila to fight hard for those who really needed, not even when her best friend turned to be the worst.
Sandrine story was the one that really captivated me, she was a very empathetic woman, she was trying to survive the war taking care of her son and waiting for the return of her beloved husband but things will start to get very dangerous for her when someone from the bad side set his eyes on her, he is determined to make her his, even if that meant to lie and pretended that she wasn't married.
These two women made me cry so much, I was on edge at all times because they were living on a thin line constantly. they were trying to fight and help at all costs even if that meant sacrificing many things they work so hard to have, like Sandrine she was in constant danger sacrificing her time with her son.
This was a good story a good book, I really love how these two women show us the courageous part of some of the women who were constantly trying to help their country to be liberated from the Nazis.
so many great secondary characters and other stories that made this book great and more enjoyable.
The Narration by Barrie Kreinik was amazing she really made this book more enjoyable and even gave so much personality to each character of the story, I really enjoy her voice and the way she made the book even deeper.
I'm not going to write a lot of the story because I don't want to give more away but it is an entertaining book
Audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik and she did a fantastic job. I’m usually not crazy about the narrators in inspirational stories by this one was really good.
This was a different kind of WW11 book in the sense that it takes place in France. I’ve read several books about this war but not one that focused on France. The writing is well developed with a clear portrait of the war. It weaves between past and present.
I highly recommend it to anyone who lives inspirational, historical fiction with a little bit of romance.
I’m giving this a high 4 stars.
Thank you Thomas Nelson and Zondervan for this ARC audiobook via Netgalley. I’ve voluntarily given my honest review.
***I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
I love historical fiction and I have been on a WWII kick lately. As an art teacher, this book intrigued me. It is about the lengths that two women in Paris went to preserve and protect famous works of art. I enjoy books that are written with flashbacks from multiple characters and keep you guessing on what will happen next. This book was beautifully written with 2 strong female leads.
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I can't wait to read another!
This is a WWII story we don’t hear much about so I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the fashion mavens who were part of La Resistance. The book was harder to follow on audio than in print due to the switching between stories and timelines.
Just finished this book today and loved it. It kept me reading so I could find out how the two stories would intertwine. I found myself tense when events got challenging and so heartbroken as characters went through troubles and grief. I got attached to these woman and men and loved seeing their resilience and strength as they went through a very ugly time and many difficult situations. This is a great story and well worth a read for anyone that likes historical fiction. There is a touch of clean romance but it isn't the main focus.
I was able to listen to the audio book and loved the narrator. She brought the story to life and added a touch of a french accent as she "spoke" for the characters. She did a wonderful job!